Tournament brings boxers from across nation to Aurora

David Sharos/The Beacon-News

From left, Nick Torres, his father Jesse Torres, Uni Camacho and Bart Warren hold a $1,000 check that the non-profit Modern Woodmen company presented to Camacho, who will soon open a boxing club for those stricken with Parkinson's disease. The money was a matching funds donation made Saturday in Aurora during anl amateur boxing tournament.

From left, Nick Torres, his father Jesse Torres, Uni Camacho and Bart Warren hold a $1,000 check that the non-profit Modern Woodmen company presented to Camacho, who will soon open a boxing club for those stricken with Parkinson's disease. The money was a matching funds donation made Saturday in Aurora during anl amateur boxing tournament. (David Sharos/The Beacon-News)

Amateur boxers from around the country came to Aurora recently for the Boxing King of the Jungle tournament at the Prisco Community Center.

The four-day event was sponsored by the National Latino Amateur Boxing Association and the local Jesse "The Law" Torres Boxing Club.

According to Torres' son Nick, the tournament in Aurora drew competitors from around the country including Texas, Michigan, Nebraska, and Indiana.

"We have men and women as well as peewee boxers and we're so excited this is happening here in our community," Torres said. "I and my partners represent the Modern Woodmen Fraternal Financial group, and we've promised to match the money made on concessions with up to a $1,000 check that going to go to help a new boxing club in town that will be working with Parkinson's patients."

The Parkinson's program is being headed up by Uni Camacho, who said she hopes to start it "once this tournament is behind us."

"We've welcomed all the support and are so grateful the community is giving back," she said.

Nick Torres said a total of 23 fights were held Wednesday, followed by 17 more on Thursday. Many of those participating came with some impressive credentials, like Antoine Cobb, 21, of Chicago.

"I'm 30-1 in my fights in the 152-pound class, and have been a two-time champion in the boxing golden blue championships," he said.

David Sharos/The Beacon-News

Zoe Glass, 18, left, of Lansing, Mich., gets taped up by her father Willie before competing Saturday in the 2017 Boxing King of the Jungle tournament offered by the National Latino Amateurs Boxing Association and the local Jesse “The Law” Torres Boxing Club.

Zoe Glass, 18, left, of Lansing, Mich., gets taped up by her father Willie before competing Saturday in the 2017 Boxing King of the Jungle tournament offered by the National Latino Amateurs Boxing Association and the local Jesse “The Law” Torres Boxing Club. (David Sharos/The Beacon-News)

For Cobb, boxing is all about discipline, patience and developing self-control.

"I've been boxing since I was 6, and since I'm from Chicago, I grew up fighting," Cobb said. "Now if I'm confronted on the streets, I just walk away. I've learned to control my anger."

Cobb's trainer is Montell Griffin of Chicago, who is a former Olympic and professional boxer.

"I've been training Antoine for about six or seven months and I like the fact that this tournament is local and the attention kids get from it," he said. "To me, training and being a fighter is the hardest thing I've ever done in my life, and everything I've had to do since then has been easy."

Lansing, Mich., resident Zoe Glass, 18, took part in the competition. She said she has been in 28 fights and has a 21-7 record.

"I like the muscle definition you get from training and I like sparring with the boys," she said. "I do get a lot of attention and notoriety from this."

Zoe's father Willie said his own son tried boxing and didn't like it and that's he's fine with his daughter having a go at it regularly in the ring "as long as she's not doing it for me."

"I want her to want this for herself, and as far as being a girl in a male-dominated sport – women are fighting every day for equal rights and opportunities so why not in the ring?" he said. "As long as she's serious and isn't doing this for someone else, I'm all for it."

Joseph Awinongya of Joliet and his son Joseph Jr., 10, were another parent and child team who were also looking at boxing in a big picture way and not just as a means to earn a trophy.

"I got into boxing years ago because of the famous promoter Don King and I brought fighters to him that competed for the world title," Awinongya Sr. said. "Unlike so many people who claim they know boxing, I know how to train someone. But my son is accomplished in so many other things."

"I think boxing has helped me be more accomplished at school and do other things," Awinongya Jr. said. "I started wrestling at 2 years old and then went into boxing when I was 5. My friends and I do other sports too."